by Elle Casey
Now I’m scared all over again. “What exactly are you saying?”
“Can we call that two weeks a trial period? And if you’re still happy at the end of it, maybe you could consider staying for longer?”
“Like a permanent job?”
He nods. “We can get you an apartment, a driver—anything you need.”
I frown at him. “I’m still not taking that money.” I haven’t quite worked out in my mind yet what ten million dollars is supposed to represent, so I can’t consider taking it. Not yet, anyway. Most important, I don’t want it to come between me and the men standing in this room. Those potential relationships are worth a lot more to me than that.
He grins. “We’ll talk about that later. What do you say about the job?”
I look over at the group of people standing in my living room . . . my moms, my sisters, this guy I’m falling in love with, my father, whoever he is . . . They’re all here for me. It’s pretty damn overwhelming, to be honest. I’ve never felt more loved in my entire life. I don’t want to let any of these people down, and I don’t want to let myself down either.
My mom is right. My future isn’t out here in the middle of a hippie commune in Maine. It’s in New York City.
So what am I waiting for?
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Are you happy?” Ty asks me.
I flatten the last moving box from the kitchen and throw it on the pile next to the front door. I’ve been in New York for three months now, and this is my biggest move yet: I’ve settled into a high-rise apartment in Midtown on the top floor, with my new roommate—the love of my life, Ty Stanz—who also happens to be the lead guitarist of Red Hot.
Yeah . . . so, I’m officially a groupie, but it’s no big deal, because I’m also a high-powered businesswoman working my way up the corporate ladder in the music industry. I earn my keep, running a well-oiled PR and branding machine that no one can find fault with anymore, not even me. Miracle of miracles, I have a knack for the business, and every one of my instincts has paid off. An industry executive just called me yesterday, trying to lure me away so I could come work for his people. Of course I said no, since I kind of love the band I’m with now.
“I’m very happy,” I say, accepting the glass of wine Ty hands me.
“Let’s make a toast.” He holds up his beer bottle and tips it toward my glass.
I smile, biting my lip as I wait to hear what he’s going to say.
“Here’s to our future together. Full of love, laughter, and privacy.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
I look around at this new, big, mostly empty apartment that we just moved into together. Nobody but family knows that we live here, and it has a private entrance to a parking garage with all kinds of security measures, including three doormen—two of whom I poached from the Four Seasons Hotel. I’ll be able to come and go as I please without anybody bothering me.
“Cheers to that,” I say, taking a sip of my wine.
“Are you happy with the progress you’ve made?” he asks, taking a sip of his beer.
“Very. Did you see the reviews?”
“I sure did. Did you see what they said about that sexy lead guitarist?” he asks, smirking.
“Yes, I sure did. ‘Hotness personified’ I think is how they described him.”
His face turns a little red and he shakes his head. “If they only knew.”
I move closer, pulling him against me. “I’m glad they don’t know, because if they did, you would never get any privacy from the rest of the world.”
He puts his beer down on the counter and holds me closer. “Is that so?”
I nod as he leans down to kiss me. We’re really going at it too, until somebody behind us clears her throat.
I turn around. “Can I help you, Mother?”
Barbara holds up a bowl. “Where am I supposed to put this?”
Sally and Carol come into the room behind her. “You need to come in here and supervise this move,” Sally says. “Carol’s putting things in the weirdest places.”
“I’m putting them in the places they should be,” she says, tugging on one of Sally’s braids.
I pull away from Ty’s embrace. “I need to go.”
“Go. Handle. Organize. Supervise. It’s what you’re good at.”
I walk away smiling, corralling my mothers and leading them back into the living room. They’re here for a few days helping me move in to our new place while I get the band ready to head off to Japan for two weeks. I’m almost tempted to go with them, but I have too much to do here. Ty’s brother, Sam, is going to be here soon, and I’ll be busy integrating him into New York City life until the band gets back.
I stand in the living room looking at the chaos my mothers have created unpacking boxes when I don’t yet have enough furniture to store things in. I blink a few times and then turn around and leave the room.
I go straight into the kitchen and grab Ty by the hand.
He smiles. “Where’re we going?”
“To the bedroom.”
“Mmm, I like the sound of that.”
I yell over my shoulder. “We’ll be out when Ty has to leave for Japan.” I drag him into the bedroom and lock the door behind us.
He slowly pulls his shirt over his head. “I like it when you take charge.”
“Good, because I’m about to show you who’s boss right now.” I slowly unbutton my blouse as I step toward him, a devious smile playing on my lips.
BRIGHT LIGHTS. BIG CITY. RED HOT LOVE.
In NYC, will Emerald follow her head—or her heart?
Coming April 2018. Order now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elle Casey, a former attorney and teacher, is a prolific New York Times and USA Today bestselling American author who lives in southwest France with her husband, the youngest of her three children, and a bunch of cats, dogs, and horses. She writes in several genres, including romance, suspense, urban fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, dystopian, and action/adventure.